An Appeal to the President
  Ajoy Roy 

Published on May 03, 2009

A team of leading citizens of the country went to see the President of the Country at 12 p.m. today, October 27, 2006 to apprise him of the grave situation the country is in following sudden unilateral termination of the current dialogue between the secretary general of BNP and general secretary of AL declared by Mr. Mannan Bhuiyan in a press conference held in his residence in the afternoon of the Eid day. This appeared to us a historic Eid gift from the parting government of Begum Khaleda or should I call it a parting kick to the nation.  

The President, however, declined to receive the team even for a few minutes, but accepted the address of memorandum through his private secretary. The team handed over the address to the secretary and then briefed the attending media men in front of the Bangavaban. The team consists of the following persons: 

  1. Dr. Kazi Faruk Ahmed, Director General, Proshika and Secretary- Sammilito Nagarik Andolan

  2. Nasiruddin Eusuf, Cultural Personality and Executive Secretary, Sammilito Nagarik Andolan
  3. Prof. Ajoy Roy     
  4. Prof. Muntasir Mamun
  5. Shahriar Kabir, Journalist & Writer
  6. Ramendu Majumdar, Cultural Personality
  7. Iqbal Sobhan Choudhury, Editor, Bangladesh Observer
  8. Lt. Col. Abu Osman Choudhury, Sector Commander
  9. Waliur Rahman, Ex-Ambassador, Director, BILIA
  10. Principal Abdul Ahad, Ereedom fighter
  11. Ms Shirin Akhter, Political personality
  12. Major (retd.) Shamsul Arefin, Freedom fighter, Publisher
  13. Golum Quddus, General secretary, Sammilito Sanskritik Jote
  14. Ataur Rahman, Journalist

The following address of memorandum (English version) was submitted to the President: 

Dhaka, 27th October 2006

 

His Excellency

 

President,

 

Professor Eiazuddin Ahmed, People�s Republic of Bangladesh

 

Subject: A call for appointing a truly neutral and non-party-man Chief Adviser of the ensuing Caretaker Government, who will be acceptable to all concerned in this juncture of critical time.

 

Your Excellency President,

 

You are surely aware of the grave political crisis the country is facing now. With the cessation of functioning of the present government from tomorrow, 28th October, 2006; the non-partisan and neutral caretaker government is supposed to take over the state power as per constitution. Under that caretaker government, the next general election will be held. By amending the constitution to make BNP�s erstwhile secretary of international affairs-- now retired chief justice of the Supreme Court--Justice KM Hasan the chief adviser of the caretaker government, the present government has created the grave crisis and critical situation. The 14-party opposition alliance led by Awami League and other political parties had long before proclaimed that Justice Hasan, a chosen person for Chief Adviser, would not be acceptable to them because of his strong past association with the BNP politics. The people felt relieved when a dialogue between Secretary General of BNP Mr. Mannan Bhuiyan and General Secretary of AL Mr. MA Jalil started. However, because of the adamant and non compromising attitude of the government party and its allies, the dialogue broke down. They, under no circumstance, would agree to see no other person as chief adviser other than Justice KM Hasan. 

 

Under this perspective, a deep political crisis and possible state of anarchy have arisen in the country. In this situation, the countrymen expect a brave and judicious role from a person like you, person of learning with the background of a university professor. We, on behalf of citizens of the country, appeal to you to appoint a neutral person as the chief adviser of the caretaker government in place of controversial Justice KM Hasan, according to the available constitutional procedure,  acceptable to most of the political parties that may save the country from chaos and confusion. Honourable Rastrapati, only your learned, honest and neutral role befitting to the statesman could save the country from the engulfing grave crisis � that what we believe very strongly.

 

With due regards,

 

Yours truly,

 

(Signed by 14 citizens stated above)     

                                                             ________

Prof. Ajoy K. Roy--a reputed scientist and human rights activist from Bangladesh--is the member of Mukto-Mona advisory board. He writes from Dhaka.